Allyship: Accelerating Advancement For All
Twenty years ago, Rosalind Wiseman wrote a book about teen-girl dynamics, which became the basis for the cult-classic movie, Mean Girls. In her latest research, she has turned her lens on how women can leave behind the social conditioning from adolescence and instead nurture and support each other in the workplace and beyond – from the lunchroom to the boardroom. This session will explore how allyship can level the playing field and accelerate women’s advancement, allowing you and others to go further faster. Learn practical tools for seizing leadership moments, resetting challenging relationships with female coworkers, and collaborative ways to stop competing and instead foster a community of support based on celebrating and advocating for each other.
Speaker: Rosalind Wiseman, Author & Cultural Expert Inspiring Courageous Leadership in Others
Host and Executive Spotlight: Brooke Murray-Etnyre, VP Global Operations, NI/Emerson
Leading with Intention: Redefining Success for Yourself and Others
What does it mean to truly lead—yourself and others? In this session, discover how to move beyond the grind of workaholism and burnout to embrace a more intentional, fulfilling approach to leadership. Through candid stories of transformation, you’ll explore how redefining success, reclaiming the power of “no,” and fostering trust-based connections can create lasting impact. Learn how small, purposeful steps—whether in life, work, or even scaling Kilimanjaro—can lead to meaningful growth. This session will inspire you to lead with clarity, nurture authentic team collaboration, and build a culture where everyone feels valued, seen, and heard.
Speaker: Sheela Subramanian, Co-Founder, Future Forum, and best-selling Author
Host: Warner Santiago, Global Director, DE&I Learning, Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Executive Spotlight: Maria Scott, Director, Operations, Chief Operations Office (Product & Engineering), Juniper
Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Evolving Workplaces
In today’s rapidly changing world, leaders face constant disruption and profound challenges. In this session, Christie Smith will guide you on how to redefine and reinvent your leadership approach. Learn to lead with conviction, emotional maturity, and humanity for greater impact. Christie will explore how modern leaders must embrace insatiable curiosity and put humans at the center of progress—both at work and in our communities. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of adapting to the evolving business landscape, addressing changing workforce demands, and incorporating emerging technologies like AI while preserving your organization’s talent and skills. Join us and gain realistic strategies and actionable techniques for immediate, impactful change.
Speaker: Christie Smith, PhD, Leadership Expert and Author
Host: Savitri Basavaiah, VP, Marketing & Franchise Strategy Neuroscience, Johnson & Johnson
Executive Spotlight: Janelle Edem, SVP, Global Risk Solutions, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives
The way we work has changed and the expectation now from our team members is for more flexible work. As a result, successful leaders are redesigning every aspect of how work gets done to ensure a level playing field for all employees. In this session, Helen Kupp will offer a blueprint for using flexible work to unlock the potential of your people and outline the steps necessary to build the new principles and guardrails to empower flexible, high-performing teams. Attendees will learn how to utilize AI to create flexibility without overburdening teams and walk away with a better understanding of the outcomes for redesigning the way we work together for truly flexible and productive teamwork.
Speaker: Helen Kupp, Author, How The Future Works
Host: Michelle Janisch, VP, Diagnostics, Marketing & Strategic Alliances, Hologic
Executive Spotlight: Nasim Afsar, Chief Health Officer & SVP, Oracle
Power Leaks: Communicating Effectively to Create Impact & Influence
There is an art and science to influential communication and it starts with the voice. Yet, very few know how to use the power of voice effectively. Worse, we have many unconscious habits that undermine our authority and negatively impact the way we are perceived – ultimately getting in the way of our success. Join this session to explore the biggest communication power leaks that siphon away our impact and influence. You will learn the strategies to navigate common communication challenges so that you can establish trust, have your voice heard, and your ideas respected. Walk away with the skills to better advocate, influence and move people to action.
Speaker: Hillary Wicht, Executive Leadership Coach & Human Systems Expert
Host: Linda West, VP, Marketing Systems, Indeed
Executive Spotlight: Doreen Burse, SVP, Worldwide Sales, United Airlines
Navigating Age in a Multigenerational Workplace
There are five different generations of employees in the workforce and for the first time in history, grandparents and grandchildren may find themselves working side-by side in an office. This session will explore the importance of and the ways to harness an age-diverse workforce. After initial remarks from the thought-leader, a panel of professionals will share their experience around navigating age in a multigenerational workplace. Learn tips to bridge the divide, address generational conflict and biases, and create a culture of inclusion where age is celebrated and respected.
Speaker: Carolina Caro, Leadership & DEI Speaker, Coach, Consultant and Trainer
Host: Crysta Dungee, Head, US DEI, Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Executive Spotlight: Evonne Delaney, CHRO, Yeti
LEADERSHIP | Leadership in the Permacrisis
The workplace has changed, and leadership is no exception. In a permacrisis, how can leaders manage uncertainty while building strong teams and intentional culture? Disruptive leadership expert Charlene Li shares the art and science of showing up as a leader in the new world of work. She shares how leaders at all levels can rethink key relationships and create environments of integrity, agency, and openness where everyone thrives.
Speaker: Charlene Li, best-selling Author, The Disruption Mindset, Transformational Leadership & Strategy Expert
LEADERSHIP | The “Next” Normal: Leadership for Now and Tomorrow
For all the focus on the “new normal” of work, we also need to be thinking about the next normal—a world in which flexibility and resilience are the coins of the realm. This session will offer leaders ideas to manage hybrid teams right now as well as how to adopt a “next normal” mentality so you are ready to deal with future business interruptions and evolutions.
Speaker: Stephanie Mehta, CEO, Mansueto Ventures & former Editor-in-Chief, Fast Company
Moderator: Rachana Bhide, Leadership Psychologist, Broadcaster & Founder, The Corner of the Court Project
Host: Julie Lane, Director, People & Communities, Cisco
Executive Spotlight: Claire Gray, VP, People & Communities, Cisco
LEADERSHIP | Rethinking Imposter Syndrome & Creating a Culture of Belonging
For too long, the narrative of imposter syndrome has persisted in the workplace. But why does so-called imposter syndrome impact women’s career progression specifically? Learn why the current messaging around this topic is flawed from Ruchika Tulshyan, co-author of “Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome,” named among the top 20 most impactful and popular articles in Harvard Business Review‘s history. Find out how leaders can create environments where imposter syndrome doesn’t stall careers and develop work cultures where everyone feels they belong.
Speaker: Ruchika Tulshyan, Author, Inclusion on Purpose, and Co-Author, “Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome” (Harvard Business Review)
Host: Niharika Khaitan, VP, Corporate Controller, Juniper Networks
Executive Spotlight: Perika Sampson, Global Head, Inclusion & Diversity, Gilead Sciences
LEADERSHIP | Perseverance: Leading a Team to Mars
In 2021, aerospace engineer Dr. Swati Mohan made history when she successfully steered the rover to Mars’s surface, calmly narrating a challenging landing while the whole world watched. In this session, she shares what it takes to build a team to achieve marvels and to lead under pressure so that you can land your own bold missions.
Speaker: Dr. Swati Mohan, Psyche Guidance, Navigation, & Control Lead, NASA/JPL
Moderator: Celeste Headlee, Host, Women Amplified podcast, award-winning Journalist & Author, Speaking of Race
Host: Doreen Burse, SVP, Worldwide Sales, United Airlines
Executive Spotlight: Kristy Harris Bias, Vice President, Finance, Telecom Systems Business, Dell Technologies